Dumah wasn't sure what compelled him to leave in the first place. Perhaps it was loneliness, or the feeling of being an outsider. It was difficult to witness the happiness of others without feeling the claws of envy raking down his sides. The need to find his family played on his mind like a siren's call, even though they all disappeared without a word. No, he thought with a heavy exhale, it's time to bear the pain and accept my abandonment.

No need to be afraid now, not any more. Dumah took it very quietly; but it meant the loss of almost everything he cared about. Life with The Fellowship was the only kind of life he had ever thought of. And now it was over.

Gloomy thoughts occupied the man's mind as he climbed. Greenery carpeted the rugged hills as Dumah surveyed his surroundings. Sweet-smelling wildflowers and tall grass embraced his senses, as though greeting an old friend. Summer on the Summit felt different – it was hard to see the mountains as unforgiving. His spirits lifted by the environment, the ashen lion lifted his head to call for the ruling queens.

He hoped they would take pity on his sinful soul.

@Morrigan @Talisa @Isla ♔

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Ooc: feel free to skip me, just wanted to toss doe in here ~

the call weren't for him, but that wasn't gonna stop him.

not when it was @Dumah callin'.

winter had melted into spring, new growth replacin' some of the snow and ice on the summit. it was still too cold up here for his likin' ( he was a creature meant for sunshine, not mountains ), but the real kicker was that he'd found himself alone. Missin' somebody wasn't exactly in doe's wheelhouse, and so he'd grappled with the feelin'.

but now dumah was back, and he could ( and would ) happily ignore all of that.

was wonderin' where you'd gotten off to, he drawls as he approaches, tickin' an ear in his companion's direction. mismatched eyes skirt across the younger male's frame and features, seekin' out anythin' odd. nothin' out of the ordinary stuck out, though, and a semblance of peace settled over his shoulders. he was still nosy, though -- eyes shinin' with curiousity as he asks: ya doin' alright?

clearly, he hoped so.

( and clearly, he was relieved to see dumah had returned. )

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Serving as a leader for nearly her entire life, Talisa was familiar with the coming's and going's of lions here and there. Struck with a small dosage of it herself every once in a while but she had always been quite the homebody. Thus while she had noticed the absence of @Dumah around the pride, she had assumed that perhaps he was visiting family or simply taking a jaunt around the territories that Amaryllis offered. A diverse list of territories that were certainly worth a visit or two, so she couldn't fault anyone that needed to stretch their legs -- especially when the Summit offered snow and cold for the majority of the year. There were a few sections of the pride that offered less snow but it was a hard thing to avoid entirely.

So when she heard the call for both herself, @Morrigan and @Isla ♔, Talisa made quick work of the activities she was engaged in. Which happened to be trying to locate a list item for one of the kids and telling them she'd be right back to save them the trouble of going down the mountain for now. Not to mention they would serve as a placeholder to start looking where they left off.

Coming along to spot @Shenandoah already present, she smiled at both of them in turn. Hey there, she greeted with a nod of her head to both but it was Dumah that had lost the Summit smell most dominantly. I was wondering where you might have gone. Hopefully your travels were fulfilling? Not that he had to respond to that, of course, if he wished to keep his business exactly his business. She was just a friendly woman who opted to know her members by the smallest of details unless they openly provided more. Thought the winter might've deterred you but I'm glad to see that you returned regardless of our seasons. If, of course, you have returned? A small grimace, hoping that he was coming back and not simply popping by to bounce back out.

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Dumah had not expected to see anyone other than the ruling couple, so when he spotted a recognisable shock of white mane, he could only say, ”Shen! Good to see you.” His smile widened as he scanned the male; Fortunately, he is unharmed. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you.” It's peculiar to be missed or thought of by someone else. Coming and going without a word was his family's policy. Perhaps this rule did not have to apply to him. ”I'm fine now.” A flicker of concern laced Dumah's voice as he asked after his friend, “How have you been?”

@Talisa appeared and Dumah bowed his head. “Hello, Sovereign Talisa,” he said, shifting uncertainly from foot to foot as he listened to her concerns. He was lost in thought for a moment, choosing his words carefully. Much had happened in his private world and yet life went on. While he had lost contact with his family and their god, other aspects had been strengthened. “My mind is clearer now, thank you.”

Surprised that Talisa had noticed his discomfort in adjusting to the cold, Dumah smiled in gratitude. “Yes, I would like that.” He takes a deep breath, enjoying the fresh air and the familiar alpine scents. He feels lighter somehow. Green eyes glance between Talisa and @Shenandoah, “What did I miss at the summit? I hope the Pride was blessed with peace.”

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It weren't that doe didn't believe @Dumah, it was just that.. well, hell. Alright, maybe he didn't believe 'em. It weren't everyday that he up and vanished, after all. Doe weren't no stranger to wanderlust and at least dumah's wanderings brought him back. So he cracks a lopsided smile, easy as anythin', letting out a soft pleased hum. Glad yer fine now, he says, addin' a little emphasis on now. since dumah had done the same.

No need to dwell on thr past, when the future was right here.

Their reunion is cut short, just a little, by a woman. Stout and brown, she greets the youngster like an old friend. At dumah's question, though, the big lug just rolls his shoulders. He didn't have an answer, really. Doe, too, smelled only faintly of the summit since bunny let him go inactive, and he regards @Talisa with an easy look. well, I ain't too sure, he says, voice gone a little sheepish, as he turns gis muzzle towards the wlman. but -- I'm guessin' you might be able to fill us in, sweetheart? He might not know who she was, exactly, but she'd come right quick after dumah had summoned the leaders. Didn't take much to put two and two together, beyond that.

And if he was right, then surely she'd know allll the gossip.

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There was ... something in the way that the two males interacted that made the hairs on her neck stand. Not as though it were a threat or danger, but as something far more tingling. Talisa was by no means any such matchmaker but she could feel as though there was this fragile thread between them. It was hard to say the length of the thread but there was something. A certain detail that could be felt but was not her business to assume anything.

At the mention of the Summit being blessed with "peace", she felt her inner self laugh. Years ago that would've been an easy answer but now, it didn't seem as though peace existed in full form. Instead, it only existed in the in-between. It seemed that not only had @Dumah been away but @Shenandoah had been a little out of the loop, too. She couldn't shame either one of them for it and certainly never would, so she nodded her head. I can fill you in. I cannot promise they will be beautiful stories, though. Talisa would have loved to tell someone that the Summit lived in blissful harmony but the years had not been so kind to her or those near.

Let's walk and talk? Get you both re-settled in? That way they could cross of things on their to-do list while they moved through the Summit. To get re-acquainted with one another and be given useful information that may or may not have changed since last they had been present or last they had checked in.

feel free to give a fade exit so you can get titled ^^

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There is an irrepressible quality to Shenandoah's smile, a silent welcome. Dumah breathed easily at the sight of him, his breath curling upward in the cool air. The stocky man was a reassuring sight, a vital constant in his life. Dumah glanced at his friend between Talisa's speech, looking for any behavioural clues. Shen is his typical easy-going self, so Dumah lets his body relax from its vigilant tension.

His gaze focuses on the brown woman, and his eyebrows rises as she warns him of the Summit's potential misfortune. Dumah shifted in place, his eyes downcast as his mind flashed with possibilities. The male lifted his head at Talisa's suggestion, grunting in agreement as he walked astride her.

'Let's go home, @Shenandoah.' He nodded toward the obsidian lion to follow, brushing lightly against the man's shoulder.

Exit via joining.

@Bunny

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well, it didn't sound like things were peachy for the summit in their absence. he don't take it to heart, though; seems like all these places went through hell and back and then back again. maybe it came with the territory of shovin' so many lions together in one place. or maybe they were all cursed by evil overlords, pullin' at their strings. eh, whatever. it weren't any of his business. well, it was now, now that they were welcomed back into the fold. his tail gives a twitch, shootin' both of them an eager smile. lead the way, he says, happy to take talisa up on her offer of walkin' and talkin'.

@Talisa @Dumah

exit into is

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More than anything she wished she could give all of her members peace of mind with exactly that, peace. A time long ago that she would have welcomed folks into Vermeda with grace and honesty that they could provide comfort, warmth and safety and now she couldn't guarantee any of that. So walking alongside both @Dumah and @Shenandoah she tried her very best to catch them up on the on-goings of the pride. Of the loss of Vermeda and those traveling her for refuge, potentially, and of the threat that lingered beyond. Of a truce that would hold so long as neither side went for each other personally. There were things that lions could come back from but harming one another for sport? Not so much. fade talisa

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